New Major Approved in African and African-American Studies

November 14, 2002

A new undergraduate major in African and African-American Studies at the University
of Rochester has been approved by the New York State Department of Education.
The major will be administered by the Frederick Douglass Institute for African
and African-American Studies and provides an interdisciplinary program that integrates
the social sciences and the humanities.

The major will allow students to follow a rigorous and closely monitored course
of study designed for broad exposure and in-depth mastery of the field. "In
the last 20 years, African and African-American Studies has established itself
as a crucial focus in many disciplines," said Larry E. Hudson, Jr., director
of the institute and associate professor of history. "Through the Frederick
Douglass Institute, the University wants to make Rochester a leader in this field."

For two years, an interdisciplinary advisory committee assessed faculty and
student support for the major. Earlier this year, the major was approved by the
Faculty Council, the deans of the College, and Provost Charles E. Phelps, chief
academic officer of the University.

The bachelor of arts degree in African and African-American Studies is intended
to bring together historical, cultural, psychological, economic, and political
approaches and perspectives to the study of people of African descent in the Atlantic
world, including the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America.

The major, which may be tailored to either the humanities or the social sciences,
is expected to appeal to students with primary interests in African and African-American
topics, said John Michael, curriculum director for the institute and professor
of English.

"Students already majoring in history, English, political science, comparative
literature, anthropology, or similar disciplines also may find a second major
in African and African-American Studies an attractive option," he said. Coursework
in African and African-American Studies, even for students majoring in engineering
or the natural sciences, will be an enriching and humanizing opportunity, Michael
pointed out.

More information about the major is available by contacting Michael at (585)
275-9207 or by visiting the institute's offices at 302 Morey Hall.

About the University of Rochester
The University of Rochester (www.rochester.edu) is one of the nation's leading private universities. Located in Rochester, N.Y., the University gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its College, School of Arts and Sciences, and Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are complemented by its Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Nursing, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, and the Memorial Art Gallery.